The Furnace: The Heart of Worship Reflecting what we revere John 4:16-26

Definition of Worship Worship is our response to the grandeur of God’s personhood The Fuel and The Flame

John 4: Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; Purview of Power

John 4: for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Purview of Power

John 4: Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Purview of Power

John 4: Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. Purview of Power

John 4: You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. Purview of Power

John 4: But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. Purview of Power

John 4: God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” Purview of Power

John 4: Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” Purview of Power

Why do we Worship -We worship God because it is our primary purpose in Life! The Fuel and The Flame

Romans 1: For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. The Fuel and The Flame

Romans 1: Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. The Fuel and The Flame

Exodus 20:3-4 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. The Fuel and The Flame

Matthew 4:10 10 You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve. The Fuel and The Flame

Matthew 4:10 10 You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve. The Fuel and The Flame

Worshiper of God vs. vs. Worshiper of images -Psalm 95:6-7 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our maker! He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture. The Fuel and The Flame

Worshiper of God vs. vs. Worshiper of images -Psalm 97.7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols… The Fuel and The Flame

“all the earth” Psalm 33:8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him! The Fuel and The Flame

“all the earth” Psalm 57:5,11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth! The Fuel and The Flame

“all the earth” Psalm 66:1-2 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! The Fuel and The Flame

“all the earth” Psalm 83:18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth. The Fuel and The Flame

“all the earth” Psalm 108:5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! The Fuel and The Flame

Revelation 7: After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, The Fuel and The Flame

Revelation 7: and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” The Fuel and The Flame

Revelation 7: And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, The Fuel and The Flame

Revelation 7: saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” The Fuel and The Flame

What does this mean for us? 1)Gorge of God 2)Focus on the attributes of God before you focus on the acts of God The Fuel and The Flame

What does this mean for us? 3)God is not interested in the forms of worship as He is the substance of worship. 4)We reflect what we revere to our own ruin or redemption. The Fuel and The Flame